Building firms flouting the law by laying off locals before foreign workers are in the minority, according to the president of the Construction Association of Bermuda (CAOB).

Labour Minister David Burch said this week he would take "decisive action", including revoking work permits, against companies who kept foreigners on the payroll but laid off Bermudians.

CAOB president Andy Pereira said it was true that both locals and work permit holders were losing jobs due to the current economic climate. He said it was wrong to keep on expatriates in the same job category as Bermudians, if locals were being laid off.

But he added: "I don't think it is fair that the industry as a whole is targeted. The actions of a few should not penalise all. As the Minister has pointed out, he will be targeting individual employers or employees."